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The Jefferson County Public School (JCPS) District will lead the way as the first district in the United States to develop a new math and science curriculum based on world-class standards.
“Building our own curriculum represents a tremendous opportunity to improve the quality of instructional materials needed for our students to achieve at world-class standards,” explained KASA member and JCPS Superintendent Stephen Daeschner.
District staff, in collaboration with the Jefferson County Teachers Association (JCTA), have completed a review of curriculum materials, instructional resources, and research currently available as part of the $25 million GE Foundation College Bound District Program Grant focused on math and science.
Each math and science program that was reviewed has positive aspects; however, none of the math programs were found to be sufficiently narrow, deep, and focused to support implementation of world-class standards. In science, some world-class topics were not sufficiently addressed and will need further development.
Therefore, based on feedback from teachers and building administrators, the GE Grant Steering Committee decided that district staff, including JCTA representatives, will collaborate with a publisher and consultants in the development of new teacher manuals, student textbooks, and instructional resources.
“These materials will be specific to the world-class standards JCPS has identified and to the instructional needs of our teachers and students. They will prepare our students for global competition and career paths in the 21st century.”
The timeline for implementing the new curriculum as part of the GE Foundation College Bound District Program Grant will be delayed while additional planning and training take place.
The new math and science program will go into effect during the 2007-08 school year with the exception of a portion of the elementary science curriculum, which is already in place and is planned to be expanded to additional schools this fall. JCPS will immediately select a publisher and consultant to begin developing new textbooks and supporting materials that focus on world-class math and science standards.
“JCTA is excited to work in partnership with the district to develop new materials to meet the needs of Jefferson County’s students and teachers,” said Brent McKim, JCTA president.
Teachers will receive professional development and focus on instructional practices in math and science in the 2006-07 school year and prepare for full implementation the following year.
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